My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Gospel According to John

Chapter 1:51

To the brethren and to all peoples, I bid you greetings in the name of our Redeemer Jesus Christ

Friends, during our readings and studies we have covered books from the OT, and just recently the NT.  The constant theme, (for lack of a better word), has been that those that turn from God, suffer in the end. I am not going to sugar coat this friends.  If God is not a part of your life, your life will not be a happy one and your afterlife even less so.   But, I have good news, it does not have to remain that way, for God Himself has presented you with opportunity to be redeemed unto Him.  The next set of studies will be from the tittle above, and one will read how God has given unto you a Savior, who willingly laid down His life for your sins, so that we may have life eternal with our heavenly Creator. 

1 In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God.

2 This same was in the beginning with God.

3 All [h]things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made.

4 In it [l]was life, and that life was the light of men.

5 [And that light shineth in the wilderness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 This same came for a witness, to bear witness of that light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light.

9 This was that true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him: and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them he gave prerogative to be the sons of God, even to them that believe in his Name,

13 Which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And that Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw the glory thereof, as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh [after me, was before me: for he was better than I.

16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (a)

18 No man hath seen God at any time: that only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

19 Then this is the record of John, when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed and denied not, and said plainly, I am not that Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he said, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Isaiah.

24 Now they which were sent, were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, neither Elijah, nor that Prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye know not.

27 He it is that cometh after me, which was before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John did baptize.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold that Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man, which was before me: for he was better than I.

31 And I knew him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water.

32 So John bare record, saying, I beheld, that Spirit come down from heaven, like a dove, and it abode upon him,

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see that Spirit come down, and tarry still on him, that is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is that Son of God.

35 The next day, John stood again, and two of his disciples.

36 And he beheld Jesus walking by, and said, Behold that Lamb of God.

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and followed Jesus.

38 Then Jesus turned about, and saw them follow, and said unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say by interpretation, Master) where dwellest thou?

39 He said unto them, Come, and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two which had heard it of John, and that followed him.

41 The same found his brother Simon first, and said unto him, We have found that Messiah which is by interpretation, that Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus beheld him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone.

43 The day following, Jesus would go into Galilee, and found Philip, and said unto him, Follow me.

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip found Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses did write in the Law, and the Prophets, Jesus that Son of Joseph, that was of Nazareth.

46 Then Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come, and see.

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold indeed an Israelite, in whom is no guile.

48 Nathanael said unto him, Whence knewest thou me? Jesus answered, and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

49 Nathanael answered, and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art that Son of God: thou art that King of Israel.

50 Jesus answered, and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

51 And he said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending, and descending upon that Son of man.

(a) Editor’s thought - Grace is the gift of redemption freely given unto us by God Himself. We can do nothing, I repeat nothing in our lives to qualify for redemption. Only by accepting, believing  and confessing, Christ as Risen Savior, and that He has died for our sins, can we receive this grace from God.  Understand friends that grace, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary Editions 1913 and 1828 is: 

“the exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another, and even more appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him” 

The key word in that definition is unmerited, as we have done nothing to deserve this gift. In fact quite the opposite is true, for as is written in the scriptures, we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death. Therefore friends I ask of you to consider your personal situations and if you’re finding that you’re not right with God, then do so. As I had mentioned above in the preface of this study, I cannot nor will not sugar coat it, your eternity depends on it. 

Friends there is so much more I wish I could speak upon, I urge you all to read this chapter slowly, thoughtfully, and reflect on all it’s verses. 

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The General Epistle of Jude

Verses 1-25

Greetings Brethren in Christ;

The past studies I used the above as cross references herein then find the entire epistle as written by Jude. 

1 Jude a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them which are called and sanctified of God the Father, and reserved to Jesus Christ:

2 Mercy unto you, and peace and love be multiplied.

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, to exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the maintenance of the faith, which was once given unto the Saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in, which were before of old ordained to this condemnation: ungodly men they are, which turn the grace of our God into wantonness, and deny God the only Lord, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, forasmuch as ye once knew this, how that the Lord, after that he had delivered the people out of Egypt, destroyed them afterward which believed not.

6 The Angels also which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, which in like manner as they did, committed fornication, and followed strange flesh, are set forth for an example, and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise notwithstanding these sleepers also defile the flesh, and despise government, and speak evil of them that are in authority.

9 Yet Michael the Archangel, when he strove against the devil, and disputed about the body of Moses, durst not blame him with cursed speaking, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these speak evil of those things, which they know not: and whatsoever things they know naturally as beasts, which are without reason, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe be unto them: for they have followed the way of Cain, and are cast away by the deceit of Balaam’s wages, and perish in the gainsaying of Korah.

12 These are rocks in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, without all fear, feeding themselves: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds, corrupt trees and without fruit, twice dead, and plucked up by the roots.

13 They are the raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shames: they are wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

14 And Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of such, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with thousands of his Saints,

15 To give judgment against all men, and to rebuke all the ungodly among them of all their wicked deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their cruel speakings, which wicked sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts: whose mouths speak proud things, having men’s persons in admiration, because of advantage.

17 But, ye beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:

18 How that they told you that there should be mockers in the last time, which should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These are they that separate themselves from others, natural, having not the Spirit.

20 But, ye beloved, edify yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the holy Ghost.

21 And keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life.

22 And have compassion of some, in putting difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, and hate even that garment which is spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you that ye fall not, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with joy,

25 That is, to God only wise, our Savior be glory, and majesty, and dominion, and power, both now and forever, Amen.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Epistle of Peter

Chapter 3:1-18

1 This second Epistle I now write unto you, beloved, wherewith I stir up, and warn your pure minds,

2 To call to remembrance the words, which were told before of the holy Prophets, and also the commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Savior.

3 This first understand, that there shall come in the last days, mockers, which will walk after their lusts,

4 And say, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the Fathers died, all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation. (a)

5 For this they willingly know not, that the heavens were of old, and the earth that was of the water, and by the water, by the word of God.

6 Wherefore the world that then was, perished, overflowed with the water.

7 But the heavens and earth, which are now, are kept by the same word in store, and reserved unto fire against the day of condemnation, and of the destruction of ungodly men.

8 Dearly beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord, as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord of that promise is not slack (as some men count slackness) but is patient toward us, and would have no man to perish, but would all men to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt up.

11 Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolved, what manner persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for, and hasting unto the coming of that day of God, by the which the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with heat?

13 But we look for new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.

15 And suppose that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given unto him wrote to you.

16 As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these things: among the which, some things are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable, wrest, as they do also other Scriptures unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest ye be also plucked away with the error of the wicked, and fall from your own steadfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: to him be glory both now and for evermore. Amen.

(a) Editor’s thoughts - Re: vss 3-4 - We are witness to this today, in the form of non-believers who openly deny the existence of God, and even question the authenticity of our Savior Christ Jesus.  Much of their disbelief can be traced back to Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher who questioned the rationalization of God. I would venture to say that he more closely resembled today’s agnostic than atheist. It is my humble opinion that the former leads eventually to the latter. However, in his writings  his core philosophy was summed up in the “Problem of Evil” wherein he wrote:

“God either wants to eliminate bad things and cannot, or can but does not want to, or neither wishes to nor can, or both wants to and can. If he wants to and cannot, then he is weak - and this does not apply to god. If he can but does not want to, then he is spiteful - which is equally foreign to god's nature. If he neither wants to nor can, he is both weak and spiteful, and so not a god. If he wants to and can, which is the only thing fitting for a god, where then do bad things come from? Or why does he not eliminate them?”

This view is often proclaimed by many a nay sayer by the modern question of “why do bad things happen to good people?” Likewise his philosophy has given rise to the idea that if one leads a good life, (that is of good works only), one will be saved. Basically, he is saying that God is a neutral  entity, that has set things in motion, and lets them play out.  I admit I do simplify it somewhat, however one must be brief here in one’s study.  

Our study today, is not to answer this question, but to show, that the Apostle Peter had reiterated much of what our Savior spoke of on the latter times, the end days. That is to say that there would be those who deny God, who oppose Him through their disbelief, (although I suspect that it is a conscious denial for all people have a spirit within them and as such do in fact know that God exists), and would openly mock those who believe. Some even calling for extreme measures and persecution of believers.  For such, I can only pray, that they someday come to the illuminating light of the Gospel, and God’s words. 

Read also -  1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1; Jude 18

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Epistle of Peter

Chapter 2:1-22

Greetings in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ

Herein today’s study, it is revealed to us that the Apostle Peter is providing information as to how we will see false teachers, and those who would use the name of Christ for the advancing of their own agendas.  Then explains and lists to us the traits that are common amongst them during his times, and are still common place today. The evil sinful nature, that is of mankind has not then, is not now, and will not in the future, be compatible to the righteousness of God. (a) 

Therefore, it behooves us to be wary of those that would promote you with great swelling words, or toss upon you great platitudes as in accordance of the wisdom of men . Such are words of vanity and are empty vessels containing nothing but air.(b) The wisdom that is the knowledge of God, is what one should seek. For it is better to serve God than to serve man.  (c)

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you: which privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that hath bought them, and bring upon themselves swift damnation.

2 And many shall follow their destructions, by whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose condemnation long since resteth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the Angels that had sinned, but cast them down into hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be kept unto damnation:

5 Neither hath spared the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person a preacher of righteousness, and brought in the Flood upon the world of the ungodly,

6 And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them and overthrew them, and made them an ensample unto them that after should live ungodly,

7 And delivered just Lot vexed with the uncleanly conversation of the wicked:

8 (For he being righteous, and dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.)

9 The Lord knoweth to deliver the godly out of tentation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment under punishment:

10 And chiefly them that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government, which are bold, and stand in their own conceit, and fear not to speak evil of them that are in dignity.

11 Whereas the Angels which are greater both in power and might, give not railing judgment against them before the Lord.

12 But these as natural brute beasts, led with sensuality and made to be taken, and destroyed, speak evil of those things which they know not, and shall perish through their own corruption.

13 And shall receive the wages of unrighteousness, as they which count it pleasure daily to live deliciously. Spots they are and blots, delighting themselves in their deceivings, in feasting with you.

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease to sin, beguiling unstable souls, they have hearts exercised with covetousness, they are the children of curse:

15 Which forsaking the right way, have gone astray following the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, which loved the wages of unrighteousness.

16 But he was rebuked for his iniquity: for the dumb beast speaking with man’s voice forbade the foolishness of the Prophet.

17 These are wells without water, and clouds carried about with a tempest, to whom the black darkness is reserved forever.

18 For in speaking swelling words of vanity, they beguile with wantonness through the lusts of the flesh them that were clean escaped from them which are wrapped in error,

19 Promising unto them liberty, and are themselves the servants of corruption: for of whomsoever a man is overcome, even unto the same is he in bondage.

20 For if they, after they have escaped from the filthiness of the world, through the acknowledging of the Lord, and of the Savior Jesus Christ, are yet tangled again therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have acknowledged the way of righteousness, than after they have acknowledged it, to turn from the holy commandment given unto them.

22 But it is come unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is returned to his own vomit: and the sow that was washed, to the wallowing in the mire.

(a) Editor’s notation - Read Jude 12; Matthew 24:4-5, 23-26;  Mark 13:22;  2 Corinthians 11:13-15

(b) Editor’s notation - In his Apology Chapter 3 Tertullian says the following, which I believe applies here:

“What are we to think of it, that most people so blindly knock their heads against the hatred of the Christian name; that when they bear favorable testimony to any one, they mingle with it abuse of the name he bears?”

(c) Editor’s notation - Read Joshua 24:15; 

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Epistle of Peter

Chapter 1:1-21

To all peoples, of all nations and tongues,  I bid you greetings in the name of our risen Savior Christ Jesus

In today’s reading the apostle Peter is reminding us that we are now partakers in the family of God, through His merciful grace given to us freely by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.  As is written in scripture, we are now also heirs to His kingdom. (a)

The apostle then goes on to speak to us, and gently admonish us that as we are such we are to walk in the ways of God’s righteousness, to follow His examples. Wherein Peter then enumerates them in order of how one effects the preceding one.  We are to be diligent in our daily seeking of God, for with this diligence comes the strengthening of our our faith. Likewise we are to add virtue, that is to say, integrity, that which has merit, and is of a high moral standard.  (b) These three combined brings one to knowledge. Not a worldly one, (although it can be applied to things of this world), but of a heavenly knowledge of all things that are meet and approved by our creator.  Listed among those are patience, temperance, godliness, kindness, and most importantly love. (c)  Once these things are part of our daily lives, we will not have time to be given over to distractions that take us away from the love that God shows to mankind, through we, His proxies here on earth. 

1 Simon Peter a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to you which have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you, through the acknowledging of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the acknowledging of him that hath called us unto glory and virtue.

4 Whereby most great and precious promises are given unto us, that by them ye should be partakers of the divine nature, in that ye flee the corruption, which is in the world through lust.

5 Therefore give even all diligence thereunto: join moreover virtue with your faith: and with virtue, knowledge:

6 And with knowledge, temperance: and with temperance, patience: and with patience, godliness:

7 And with godliness, brotherly kindness: and with brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these things be among you, and abound, they will make you that ye neither shall be idle, nor unfruitful in the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9 For he that hath not these things, is blind, and cannot see far off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore, brethren, give rather diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

11 For by this means an entering shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though that ye have knowledge, and be established in the present truth.

13 For I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance,

14 Seeing I know that the time is at hand that I must lay down this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.

15  will endeavor therefore always, that ye also may be able to have remembrance of these things after my departing.

16 For we followed not deceivable fables, when we opened unto you the power, and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but with our eyes we saw his majesty:

17 For he received of God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from that excellent Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice we heard when it came from heaven being with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a most sure word of the Prophets, to the which ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arise in your hearts.

20 So that ye first know this, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation:

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost.

(a) Editor’s notation - Read Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; Titus 3:7; James 2:5;

(b) Editor’s notation - Read Philippians 4:8

(c) Editor’s notation - Read 1 Corinthians 13

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading 

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 25:1-30

1 And in the ninth year of his reign, the tenth month, and tenth day of the month Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and they built forts against it round about it.

2 So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

3 And the ninth day of the month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

4 Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night, by the way of the gate, which is between two walls that was by the king’s garden: now the Chaldeans were by the city round about: and the king went by the way of the wilderness.

5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and took him in the deserts of Jericho, and all his host was scattered from him.

6 Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah, where they gave judgment upon him.

7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon.

8 And in the fifth month, and seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan chief steward and servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem,

9 And burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the great houses burnt he with fire.

10 And all the army of the Chaldeans that were with the chief steward, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

11 And the rest of the people that were left in the city, and those that were fled and fallen to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan chief steward carry away captive.

12 But the chief steward left of the poor of the land to dress the vines, and to till the land.

13 Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brazen Sea that was in the house of the Lord, did the Chaldeans break, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

14 The pots also and the besoms, and the instruments of music, and the incense dishes, and all the vessels of brass that they ministered in, took they away.

15 And the ash pans, and the basins, and all that was of gold, and that was of silver, took the chief steward away,

16 With the two pillars, one Sea and the bases, which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord: the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter thereon was brass, and the height of the chapiter was with network three cubits, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and likewise was the second pillar with the network.

18 And the chief steward took Seraiah the chief Priest, and Zephaniah the second Priest, and the three keepers of the door.

19 And out of the city he took an Eunuch that had the oversight of the men of war, and five men of them that were in the King’s presence, which were found in the city, and Sopher captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the city.

20 And Nebuzaradan the chief steward took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.

21 And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.

22 Howbeit, there remained people in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon left, and made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan ruler over them.

23 Then when all the captains of the host and their men heard, that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, to wit, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of Maachathi, they and their men.

24 And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and ye shall be well.

25 But in the seventh month Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the king’s seed, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, and he died, and so did he the Jews, and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.

26 Then all the people both small and great, and the captains of the army arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27 Notwithstanding in the seven and thirtieth year after Jehoiachin King of Judah was carried away, in the twelfth month and the seven and twentieth day of the month, Evil-Merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of the prison,

28 And spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,

29 And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him, all the days of his life.

30 And his portion was a continual portion given him by the king, every day a certain, all the days of his life.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 24:1-20

1 In his days came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: afterward he turned, and rebelled against him.

2 And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Aramites, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the Ammonites, and he sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the Prophets.

3 Surely by the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, that he might put them out of his sight for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,

4 And for the innocent blood that he shed, (for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood) therefore the Lord would not pardon it.

5 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

7 And the king of Egypt came no more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt, unto the river Perath, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old, when he began to reign, and reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name also was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

9 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

10 In that time came the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon up against Jerusalem: so the city was besieged.

11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.

12 Then Jehoiachin the king of Judah came out against the king of Babylon, he, and his mother and his servants, and his princes, and his eunuchs: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and brake all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the Temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said.

14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the strong men of war, even ten thousand into captivity, and all the workmen, and cunning men: so none remained saving the poor people of the land.

15 And he carried away Jehoiachin into Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his eunuchs, and the mighty of the land, carried he away into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon,

16 And all the men of war, even seven thousand, and carpenters, and locksmiths a thousand: all that were strong and apt for war, did the king of Babylon bring to Babylon captives.

17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his uncle king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

18 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old, when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

19 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

20 Therefore certainly the wrath of the Lord was against Jerusalem and Judah, until he cast them out of his sight. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.